Gauteng Mpox cases remain at three as national total hits 22

The Department of Health (DoH) has confirmed that one of the four new cases involves a man from Cape Town who travelled to Spain.

The individual was previously classified as a probable case while laboratory results from Spanish health authorities were awaited.

Following confirmation of a positive test, the case has now been reclassified as laboratory-confirmed and included in the updated total.

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The other three cases include two imported infections involving a German and a Norwegian citizen.

Of the 22 confirmed cases, 18 are in the Western Cape, three are in Gauteng, and one is in KZN. All patients are male except one, according to the department.

The DoH, together with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners, is supporting health authorities in the Western Cape with response measures, including contact tracing and enhanced surveillance.

The department said Mpox symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue and a rash or skin lesions. These can appear on the face, hands, feet, genitals or other areas of the body.

Anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed case within the past 21 days and develops symptoms should seek medical attention promptly and inform healthcare providers about their exposure history.

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“While most cases remain concentrated in the Western Cape, the identification of transmission clusters and cases across multiple provinces highlights the need for sustained public co-operation, early detection, and continued surveillance to prevent further spread,” the department said in a statement.

The latest increase follows a warning from the DoH last week urging the public to remain vigilant about Mpox symptoms after a rapid rise in laboratory-confirmed cases.